Report: Pac-12 Eyes UNLV, UTSA, More for Expansion; Gonzaga a Possibility for CBB
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVSeptember 18, 2024
The Pac-12's quest to continue its existence has already included poaching Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference. Now, it reportedly has its sights set on the American Athletic Conference, too.
According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, the Pac-12 has identified Memphis and Tulane as its "top targets," though he added that UTSA, North Texas, South Florida and Texas State are the "central-eastern options the Pac-12 is looking into."
Five of the schools mentioned above are in the AAC, with Texas State the lone outsider from the Sun Belt.
There is also the possibility that the Pac-12 could further poach the Mountain West:
Dennis Dodd @dennisdoddcbsMultiple sources have told CBS Sports the eight remaining <a href="https://twitter.com/MountainWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MountainWest</a> schools remain in play for the <a href="https://twitter.com/pac12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pac12</a>. They have not been eliminated from consideration. The question is why they weren't announced on Thursday.
Paolo Uggetti @PaoloUggettiOregon State AD Scott Barnes is speaking to media ahead of OSU-Oregon. He was asked if other programs had come forward over the last 48 hours with interest to join the new PAC-12<br><br>"Bunches, bunches." <br><br>Also says they want to keep the PAC-12 brand even if they only have 8 teams.
Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoAPWhen might more members be added? Pac-12 Commish Teresa Gould: <br>".. we haven't set a soft or a hard timeline at all because for us, it's really about being patient enough to see what opportunities might unfold, but also being aggressive enough to create opportunities on our own."
As for schools like UNLV and Air Force, Vannini noted that the pair are "more likely if the conference strikes out on its eastern swing attempts."
The AAC is expected to make a push for Air Force to join Army and Navy, bringing the three service academies together.
Pete Thamel @PeteThamelSources: Air Force has emerged as a serious target to be added to the American Athletic Conference. Air Force had emerged in conversations as a potential AAC add in recent months, prior to the Pac-12 taking four Mountain West schools last week. <a href="https://t.co/yDhK1nBNaA">pic.twitter.com/yDhK1nBNaA</a>
It remains unclear if UNLV will untether itself from Nevada, much as Oregon and Washington did to Oregon State and Washington State—the two remaining Pac-12 programs—when they departed for the Big Ten alongside USC and UCLA.
Many of the changes are focused on football, given the lucrative media-rights deals that accompany the sport. But one of the more interesting possibilities, according to Vannini, is that the conference could consider Gonzaga as a basketball school.
As he wrote: "Although Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes told The Athletic on Saturday that football is a requirement for members, other sources briefed on the league's thinking believe that's just for this next step, not ruling out the possibility that the league would try to add a school like Gonzaga to what could be a strong basketball conference."
Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBSStarting a new Pac-12 with Gonzaga and San Diego State -- programs that have played in two of the past four national title games -- would be STRONG from a basketball perspective.<br><br>So I endorse this.<br><br>Go get Gonzaga, Pac-12.<br><br>Then target other schools with good markets and real… <a href="https://t.co/NfvBto4OD2">https://t.co/NfvBto4OD2</a>
The Pac-12 remains on a fixed deadline to ensure its existence—it requires eight members by July 1, 2026 to be recognized as a conference by the NCAA. But it sounds as though it has identified plenty of potential options in that effort.